Fourth Floor Movie Review: A Haunted Apartment Thriller That Loses Its Way
Released on February 27, 2026, the Tamil drama-thriller 'Fourth Floor' runs for 2 hours and 2 minutes, receiving a modest 2.0 rating from both critics and users. Directed by L.R. Sundarapandi, the film attempts to blend supernatural elements with a political conspiracy but ultimately drowns in its own narrative clutter.
A Promising Premise That Quickly Unravels
The film follows Dheeran, a software engineer portrayed by Aari Arjunan, who arrives in Chennai after receiving a mysterious call from his ex-girlfriend Anu, played by Pavithra. He moves into flat 4A at the secluded Royal Town apartment complex, only to discover it's coated in dust and cobwebs, with an eerie atmosphere suggesting it might be haunted.
His neighbor Swetha, enacted by Deepshika, befriends him as strange visions begin to plague Dheeran. These include dreams of being pushed from the fourth floor, discovering a photo of Anu with a child in the attic, and flickering apparitions of past residents who apparently never left voluntarily. When Anu becomes unreachable, the building's management insists Dheeran was given the wrong flat and pressures him to leave, setting the stage for a deeper investigation.
From Supernatural Mystery to Conventional Conspiracy
What begins as a potentially engaging haunted apartment story pivots abruptly into a standard conspiracy thriller involving covered-up murders, a real estate scam, and a political nexus. The film introduces numerous elements that feel disconnected: unnecessary songs, fight sequences where Aari roughs up goons, flashbacks to Dheeran's romance with Anu, a court petition, a journalist who gets eliminated, and a political land grab tied to an international company.
Director Sundarapandi struggles to maintain narrative coherence, with scenes that don't connect organically but rather sit awkwardly next to each other. A tense moment in the apartment gives way to Dheeran throwing punches at the supervisor's men, which then transitions to a courtroom filing, followed by another supernatural vision. This lack of rhythmic flow prevents the film from building meaningful suspense or emotional investment.
Familiar Villains and Underdeveloped Characters
The political nexus at the film's core—featuring corrupt cops collaborating with building management, powerful land sharks, and conveniently covered-up murders—has been the default villain engine of Tamil cinema for years. 'Fourth Floor' brings nothing fresh to this tired template, relying on clichés rather than innovation.
Aari Arjunan holds the screen capably, carrying the investigative stretches with enough conviction to prevent viewers from tuning out entirely. However, his character remains strangely blank where the story demands more emotional depth. The supporting cast, including Deepshika and Pavithra, fills roles rather than creating memorable characters. Thalaivasal Vijay brings some necessary gravitas, but it's not enough to salvage the overall narrative.
Editing and Pacing Issues
At over two hours, 'Fourth Floor' suffers significantly from pacing problems. A tighter, more focused edit could have trimmed the clutter that doesn't amount to much, sharpening the thriller elements and enhancing suspense. Instead, the film meanders through multiple subplots without delivering satisfying payoffs.
The idea of communicating with the deceased through a haunted space is an old but potentially effective starting point. Unfortunately, it doesn't hold up for long before being buried under conventional thriller tropes and disjointed storytelling.
Final Verdict
'Fourth Floor' is a thriller that moves in fits and starts, never finding its rhythm or delivering on its promising premise. While Aari's performance provides occasional engagement, the film's structural weaknesses, cluttered plot, and reliance on familiar villains make it a disappointing watch. For viewers seeking a coherent and innovative thriller, this haunted apartment story fails to elevate beyond its conventional trappings.
